A Mini Adventure At Dirleton Castle
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Recommendation added: 30/05/2006 19:24
By: HighHopes (YSUK rating +40)HighHopes has been thanked 2 times for this contribution
"Anyone visiting North Berwick or Edinburgh and surrounding areas may wish to take a wee cultural detour to Dirleton Castle. This is a small but surprisingly intact castle surrounded by gorgeous gardens. The castle hosts regular events to make your historical adventure just a bit more exciting.
The earliest parts of the castle date back to the 13th century. It sports an impressive drum tower or keep which contained the Lord's hall and private apartments. The castle has been attacked and restored several times with one of the attacks on the castle being ordered by Robert the Bruce. On the grounds you'll find a very well kept beehive Dovecot that should definately not be missed. The castle has also been named in Guiness Book of World Records as having the longest herbaceous hedge in the world.
When you first get to the Castle you will see a small car park, public toilets and a play park with picnic tables. You enter the castle via the gift shop which is well stocked with a good variety of Scottish and Castle related items. Most of the items are quite reasonable and you can easily satisfy the kids for just a few pounds each. Payment for entry is made at the cash register in the shop. You will find a very good quide book available for a few pounds that is well worth the money as it contains a wealth of information about the castle and some other area castles as well.
Once you leave the gift shop you will see a small turret to your left that was once the guards post. To your right you'll see a row of bushes and trees and beyond them a wide green expanse that is sometimes used as a bowling green today. There are also some replicas of ancient war machines in this area which are used for some of the many events put on by the castle. In front of you you'll see some superb manicured gardens that is often adorned by a butterfly or two. As you walk to the back of this garden area you'll find a bench up on a wee hill. This is a great spot to take some photo's as you can see the gardens, the walls, the guardhouse and the famous staircase to the castle: a rather unusual castle feature added by a former owner to allow easy access to the gardens.
Just past the bench you will walk up a few steps up the hill towards the castle steps. The lower half of the staircase has no handrail and is a bit steep so if you are afraid of heights or have small children you may wish to continue along the path to the area at the back of the gardens as that is where the main entrance is with a nice easy access drawbridge. This is the only access for wheelchair users.
When you venture inside you'll find access to the large storage vaults with rounded ceilings as well as an area used as a chapel. You can visit the dungeon area but be careful, the staircase is quite narrow with uneven an odd height steps. I have some problems with my knees and I found this area a bit challenging.
You will also see the main kitchens with the intact remains of the HUGE fireplaces and a bread oven. You can stand inside the area that was the fireplace and see the sky through the opening stories above you. This was my childrens favourite part of the castle as they could really imagine it being used.
Many of the rooms of the castle are also still intact with a few still sporting the sluices for some rather primitive waste disposal. The great hall is only partially intact but you get a good sense of what it must have been like to be the Laird of the Castle. It is in this are where you can get some of the best views of North Berwick and the North Sea. You can also get some stunning shots looking down past the tall trees surrounding the castle and out unto it's well manicured grounds. If you can make it up to this level of the castle I highly recommend it.
Although this castle is small compared to many it's one of the best preserved 'ruins' that I've ever been too. You really can get a sense of what it was like to live in it and it really feels mediaeval, the way most people romanticise castles as being. If you or your kids are avid castle fans then this site is not to be missed!
One final note before I go onto the to the what's and where's: Dirleton Castle is owned by Historic Scotland. If you are planning to visit more than one castle in Scotland within 12 months time you may find it worthwhile to join Historic Scotland. HS now does memberships via direct debit and a family pass for 2 adults and any amount of children is only £68 or £5.57 per month. If you're planning to visit Edinburgh Castle as well as Dirleton a family of four will pay that much for these two castles alone. More details on membership can be found here http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/member/membership_price s.htm
Contact
Tel 01620 850330
Opening times
Open all year.
Summer
1 April to 30 September
Monday to Sunday 9.30am to 6.30pm
Winter
1 October to 31 March
Monday to Sunday 9.30am to 4.30pm
Last tickets sold at 6pm (4pm in winter)
Christmas and New Year Period
Closed 25th, 26th December and 1st, 2nd January.
2006 Admission prices
Adult £4.00 Child £1.60 Concessions £3.00
Accessibility
STB Category 3 - The two gardens and grounds are accessible to those using wheelchairs. Two steps lead to the inner courtyard.
The castle interior is restricted for visitors using wheelchairs as are the gazebo and dovecote. Wheelchair access to the castle is strictly via the drawbridge, most of the castle is not visible from wheelchair accessible areas. Surfaces on all garden paths and those leading to the grounds are suitable for wheelchairs.
Parking is available 110 metres away. Visitors with disabilities can be dropped off by the main road which runs within 10 metres of the main gate.
There are public toilets in the car park but no disabled toilets are available. However, there is an Inn across the road that should allow access to disabled toilet facilities.
Events For June 2006 to June 2007
Fire and Sword - Clan And Covenant
12 noon – 4.00 pm with main shows at 1.30 pm & 3.00 pm
Sunday 11 June
The year is 1645
The whole of Britain is engulfed in the flames of a civil war. In Scotland, Covenanters were fighting for religious freedom against Charles I, with most Highland Clans supporting the king. Fire and Sword Re-enactment Society will be demonstrating the weaponry, armour and clothing of the period.
A Knight's Tale 2.00 pm
Saturdays 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 July 5, 12, 19, and 26 August
Come and discover how a knight of the 14th century prepared for battle. Investigate the arms and armour of the period and find out about medieval warfare.
Family, food and fun day 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Saturday 23 September
As part of the East Lothian Food Festival, Dirleton Castle hosts a day including falconry displays, local crafts, food and entertainment for children.
The Castle is located in the village of Dirleton, just three miles west of North Berwick on A198 and 20 miles East of Edinburgh. Access by car is preferred however you can take First Bus 124 or X5 from Charlotte Square in Edinburgh City Centre. Or you may take the train from Edinburgh Waverly to North Berwick then walk down to the High Street and catch either of the two buses mentioned previously.
Access by Train: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/download_tt.htm
Acce ss by Bus: http://www.traveline.org.uk/index.htm
Access by Car: http://www.multimap.com/"
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